Hip Flexor Stretch Device

ABSTRACT

A lower-body stretching device and method of use has a back support belt slidably connected to a line, the line further slidably connected to a knee pad. The length of line extends around an outer side of the belt and knee pad, such as through an outerly-disposed channel of each. The line thus forms a closed loop around the pad and belt. During use of the device, a person applies pressure against the belt (using his/her back) and the pad (using his/her knee and/or lower leg) with a taut line. An adjustable length connector situated along a length of the line, has a locked and an unlocked configuration in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to exercise devices, and more specifically to devices for resistance while extending a leg.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A useful stretch for the lower body is the hip flexor stretch. This stretch is commonly used by athletes, martial artists, and physical therapists for rehabilitation purposes. The hip flexor stretch is effective in stetching multiple muscle groups of the hip and legs, including the gluteus maximus, hanstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus), illiopsoas (psoas and iliacus), lower latissimus dorsi, and sartorius. Apart from improving mobility of the aforesaid hip and upper leg muscles, this stretch can be very effective in alleviating lower-back pain as well as pelvic or hip pain. The most common method of performing the hip flexor stretch is for the subject to lie supine on a level surface, and, using the hands, manually draw one of the subject's knees towards their chest. The subject holds the knee in place in the stretched position with their hands, and then releases the knee after the stretch is complete.

The principal problem of performing the stretch in this manner is that the subject's hands and arms quickly get fatigued holding the knee in place for the duration of the stretch. A device that securely holds the knee in the stretched position without the subject having to manually hold the knee in place with their hands can be very useful for athletes and for physical therapy and is needed in the art.

There is thus a need in the art for a method and a system simplifying and improving upon hip flexor stretches.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A lower-body stretching device and method of use is disclosed herein. A back support belt deformable between a linear and curvilinear configuration is used which is connected by a flexible line (where “line” is defined as “a length of cord, rope, wire, cable or other length of flexible and resilient material”) to a rigid curvilinear pad. The length of line extends around a convex side of the curvilinear pad and a side of the belt which is distal the curvilinear pad. The line thus forms a closed loop around the pad and belt, each thereof covering less than 33%, 20%, or 15% of the length of the line. The line can be slidably attached to the belt and/or pad within a channel or portal, whether partially or fully covered. In some embodiments the line is affixed to the pad and/or belt. An adjustable length connector situated along a length of the line, has a locked and an unlocked configuration. The adjustable length connector holds the ends of the line together or near each other forming the closed loop. In this manner, the closed loop passes through the adjustable length connector, through a channel of, or exteriorly attached to, the belt, and through a channel of, or exteriorly attached to, the pad.

“Locked” is defined as “holding two or more parts of the line in place relative to the adjustable length connector when the pad and belt are pulled away from each other during ordinary designated use of stretching or applying a counter force while the muscles are in a stretched position.” The term “unlocked” is defined as “allowing a line to slide through with the force of flexion of a lower leg of an ordinary human user of the device.” In some embodiments, in a locked position, the distance between the pad and belt (and length of the closed loop) corresponds substantially to a distance from a posterior torso to a lower leg when the lower leg and hip are flexed such that when calibrated for a particular person, attempting flexion of the iliopsoas muscle causes the lower leg to press against the pad while placing tension on the belt against the posterior torso part of such a person.

“Adjustable length connector” is defined as, “a device which has a first state in which two ends of a line are held in place relative to the connector and a second state in which the two ends of the line are movable through the connector by way of human force.” The “adjustable length connector” can additionally be defined as “a device which allows selective stationary positioning of two ends of the line.” The adjustable length connector, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, has a tensile strength sufficient to prevent movement of the line therein while force is applied to said line during the hip flexor stretch and/or using the lower-body stretching device in a manner designed therefor. An adjustable length connector can consist of a “pulley” which is a device with a wheel in which a line passes at least partially around and changes the direction of the line.

The curvilinear pad has a concave and convex side. The pad is rigid in that the pad is designed to retain the shape and structure thereof through use as designed in conjunction with the hip and/or knee flexion of the invention disclosed herein. The concave side of the pad faces into the closed loop, such as towards the belt, when in use. The closed loop line extends around the belt and the convex side of the curvilinear pad in some such embodiments of the disclosed technology. The circumference (distance of the line enclosed by and/or enclosing and/or combination of enclosing/enclosed by the adjustable length connector, pad, and belt) can be calibrated such that the closed loop is substantially equal to a circumference of a line extending around a lower leg of a flexed knee and hip of a wearer, the line being placed further against a posterior side of a torso of a designated wearer/user of the device. The pad presses between the line and lower leg of a person, and the belt presses against the posterior side (back) of such a wearer/user of the device in embodiments of the disclosed technology. In such embodiments the lower and upper leg are at an acute angle to one another such as below 45, 40, 35, 30, or 20 degrees relative to one another. Further, the knee may be pressed against a posterior torso of the wearer and/or directly anterior to a shoulder.

When referring to the posterior side or back side of the wearer, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, this is limited to the latus region or hypochondriac region thereof.

In embodiments of the disclosed technology a user lies supine on a level surface, and then positions the belt piece behind his/her upper back. The pad piece is placed against the anterior side of their lower leg, such as immediately below the knee of the leg being stretched. Once the device is properly positioned, the user can stretch the relevant muscles by unlocking the adjustable length connector (relieving tension by way of mechanical movement of a part of the adjustable length connector and/or part of the line) and drawing the line through the adjustable length connector, causing the pad piece to be drawn closer to the belt piece, thereby increasing the stretch of the applicable muscle groups.

Described another way, a lower-body stretching device of embodiments of the disclosed technology has a length of flexible line held into a form of a closed loop by an adjustable line-locking device such as a adjustable length connector. An exterior side of each of a pad and the belt are attached to the length of line such that the pad is slidably connected to the length of line. The belt is in a fixed position relative to the length of line (e.g. fixed to the line). “Fixed” is defined as “designed to hold together during regular use of the invention.” “Slidably” is defined as “designed to move along one axis during regular use of the invention.” “Detachable” is defined as “designed to be connected and disconnected multiple times during ordinary use of the invention.” “Frictionally held” is defined as “two objects held in place relative to each other based on forces pushing one object into the other object.” Any two objects defined in this disclosure can be held in a fixed, slidable, detachable, and/or frictionally held condition unless specified otherwise. The pad and belt are, in some embodiments of the disclosure, frictionally held against a lower leg and posterior torso of a wearer, respectively.

A fixed maximum distance between the pad and the belt is adjustable by way of passing the line through the adjustable length connector and locking the line (relative to and/or preventing slidable motion therewith) into the adjustable length connector. The locking can include placing the line in the adjustable length connector such that the line is immovable through the adjustable length connector by way of extension of a leg of an intended wearer. The afore-described fixed maximum distance is set, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, at a distance requiring flexion of a knee and hip of an intended wearer when the pad is placed over either a knee or lower leg when the belt is placed around a posterior side of a torso of a wearer. The belt can be placed against the posterior side of the torso, and more specifically, the latus and/or hypochondriac region thereof.

For the purposes of the present application, the terms “marking” or “markings” and “indicium” or “indicia” are used interchangeably, and are defined as one or more symbols formed on a workpiece or on a worktable, which are observable by a visual input device. The symbols may be made in any suitable way, such as using ink, tape, stickers, localized etching, and the like.

It should be understood that the use of “and/or” is defined inclusively, such that the term “a and/or b” should be read to include the sets: “a and b,” “a or b,” “a,” or “b.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a person lying supine while using the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 shows a reverse side elevation view a person lying supine while using the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 3 shows an anterior view of a curvilinear pad used in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a version of an adjustable length connector used in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 6 shows a user of the lower-body stretching device pushing a lower leg towards the knee pad which simultaneously applies pressure to a posterior side of a back by way of the belt in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7 shows a a reverse side view of the lower-body stretching device with user therein of FIG. 6 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A lower-body stretching device and method of use is disclosed herein. A back support belt is bendable (deformable) between a linear and curvilinear configuration. A flexible and resilient (able to bend between the linear and curvilinear shapes repeatedly) line is used to slidably connect the belt to a knee pad (shaped to cover a knee) such as a rigid (designed to substantially retain shape during designed use) curvilinear pad. The length of line extends around an outer side (relative to a user of the device) which can be a convex side of the curvilinear pad. The line thus forms a closed loop around the pad and belt, each thereof covering less than 33%, 20%, or 15% of the length of the line. A channel or portal, created by a loop, series of loops, and/or elongated loop connected an outer side of one or both of the belt and pad allows for slided movement of the line there-through. During use of the device the belt and/or pad can move relative to the line. The belt can be placed on the anterior side of the back while the pad can placed on the posterial side of a knee and/or leg of a person using the device to stretch/apply pressure against the belt/pad and make the line taut. In some embodiments the line is permanently affixed to the pad and/or belt.

An adjustable length connector situated along a length of the line has a locked and an unlocked configuration in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The adjustable length connector holds the ends of the line together or near each other (within six, two, one, or less than one inch) forming the closed loop. In this manner, the closed loop passes through the adjustable length connector, through a channel of, or exteriorly attached to, the belt, and through a channel of, or exteriorly attached to, the pad.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following description of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a person lying supine while using the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. A lower-body stretching device has a back support belt 40 with channel 42 of the belt. The belt 40 is adapted to wrap around a posterior side of a back of a wearer (user of the device) 1. The channel 42 holds the line 30 there-through 215 between an outer side of the channel and the body of the belt. In some embodiments, the belt 40 lacks a channel and the line 30 is directly between the belt and a mat 10. The mat 10 can be any lower surface, generally or substantially flat, such as the floor of a room, carpet, and so on. The channel 42 can be created/between an outer side of the belt 40 and a length of fabric 220 with open sides at ends thereof while the shorter sides are fixed to the belt allowing the line 30 to pass there-through. This can include multiple channels or a single channel 42 centered on an elongated side of the belt.

The flexible line 30 (such as a rope) then extends to/on an exterior side of the belt 40 such as within the channel 42. The line 30 also extends on a left and right side of a wearer/user of the device to a curvilinear (or knee) pad 20. The pad (curviliner or knee, names used interchangably), can be placed over a knee 3 of a person, in part or in whole, and/or an upper section (upper ⅓) of a lower leg used to attempt flexion of the illopsoas muscle. One's leg 2 is thus positioned within the line 30 which prevents extension of the lower leg to the extent that the line is held in a circumference of a particular size as will be discussed below.

FIG. 2 shows a reverse side elevation view a person lying supine while using the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Here the person 1 is attempting flexion of the iliopsoas muscle. This is carried out by way of pressing the lower leg and/or knee against the pad 20 which has a channel 22. This, in turn/simultaneously, places tension on the belt 40 against the posterior torso of such a person 1. The posterior torso is against the mat or ground 10. An adjustable length connector 50 holds the line 40 taut when using the lower-body stretching device. In other embodiments a fixed-sized line can be used, calibrated for a particular person. A stretchable line can also be used in other embodiments. As shown in some embodiments herewith, the line 30 is taut and substantially inflexible/the length of the line itself unchangeable. A loop of line 30, formed around the leg and posterior part of the person 1, however, has a fixed or substantially fixed length due to the line 30 being held to a length set using the adjustable length connector 50. This connector allows the length of a loop of line (as shown in FIG. 2 ) to be modified based on pulling more line 30 through the adjustable length connector 50 in one direction or an opposite direction thereof.

FIG. 3 shows an anterior view of a curvilinear pad used in embodiments of the disclosed technology. As stated above, the curivilinear pad 20 can adapted for placement over an anterior side of a knee and/or an upper region of an anterior side of a lower leg. The pad 20 shown here has an interior/anterior side 24 which is partially (between 20% and 49%), mostly (between 50% and 75%), or substantially (between 76% and 95%) or fully (between 96% and 100%, within a tolerance level accepted in the industry) curvilinear. The opposite interior/posterior side (not shown) can have a compressible pad for comfort when the pad 20 is placed against a person.

The channel 22 (see description of the channel 42 for which the said description applies to the channel 22) is shown with two separate loops which hold the line 30 between the loops/exterior side of the channel 22 and the convex side 24 of the pad 20. The line 30 is thus slidably movable through the channel 22 allowing for adjustment of a position of the pad 20 relative to the back support belt 40 along the line 30. In some embodiments the line 30 is fixedly (non-slidably) attached to the pad 20.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the lower-body stretching device in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Here the adjustable length connector 50 is shown holding ends of the line 30 near each other (touching, within 1 inch, and/or within 3 inches). The line 30 passes through the pad 20 with an interior/concave/posterior side 26. The channel 22 is on the other side of the pad 20 (not visible in the view shown in FIG. 4 ). The belt 40 is on an opposite side of a circumference of the line 30 relative to the pad 20. That is, a distance from the belt 40 to the pad 20 is substantially equal or equal on either side thereof. For example, the distance from the belt 40 through the combination of adjustable length connector 50 and a length of line 30 between the pulley 50 and pad 20 is substantially equal or equal to a length of line 30 between the belt 40 and pad 20 which is on a side lacking an adjustable length connector.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a version of an adjustable length connector used in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. The adjustable length connector 50 shown is a pulley, though any connector known in the art can be used as long as the connector is able to hold the line 30 (which can be substantially cylindrical or flat) in a fixed circumferential length. “Circumferential” is defined herein as “the enclosing boundary of a curved shape” such as a boundary formed by the line 30 and, in some embodiments, in combination with an adjustable length connector 50. The adjustable length connector 50 can be a pulley which locks the line 30 in place relative to the pulley, at two positions on the line 30. In other embodiments a ratchet-type connector can be used (such as a “zip-tie” structure or structure with multiple flanges and locking latch with release button pulling the lach from the flanges). In another embodiment a belt system with a buckle through which the line 30 passes through is used. Such a buckle can have an extending flange, such as metal post, which passes through one of a plurality of portals placed in line with each other like a traditionally worn belt.

FIG. 6 shows a user of the lower-body stretching device pushing a lower leg towards the knee pad which simultaneously applies pressure to a posterior side of the user's back by way of the belt in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. FIG. 7 shows a a reverse side view of the lower-body stretching device with user therein of FIG. 6 . One positions the anterior side 22 of the curvilinear pad 20 against a knee or lower leg. In other embodiments the pad can be of a non-curvilinear shape and other devices instead/in addition to can be placed against an anterior side of a leg such as and including the line 30 itself. The belt 40 is then, or before, positioned around a selected area of a latus region and/or hypochondriac region of a back of a wearer/user 1 of the stretching device. A lower leg is then, or before, placed into the curvilinear pad, the length of the line 30 set or changed to hold the lower leg flexed towards the upper leg and/or bent knee. One then stretches a muscle within a leg by attempting or carrying out flexion of the lower leg. Before or during these afore-described steps, the user/wearer lies supine on a posterior side of the torso and sets a fixed maximum distance of the line while the pad is against the lower leg and the belt is against the posterior side of the torso.

While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology. 

I claim:
 1. A lower-body stretching device, comprising: a belt deformable between a linear and curvilinear configuration; a rigid curvilinear pad; a length of line extending around a convex side of said curvilinear pad and a side of said belt distal relative to said curvilinear pad forming a closed loop.
 2. The lower-body stretching device of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable length connector situated along a length of said line, said adjustable length connector having a locked and an unlocked configuration; wherein said length of line passing within said adjustable length connector being in a locked position results in a fixed maximum distance between said belt and said curvilinear pad.
 3. The lower-body stretching device of claim 2, wherein a concave side of said curvilinear pad faces towards said belt; and said closed loop extends around said belt and said convex side of said curvilinear pad at a circumference calibrated such that said pad and said belt positioned around a posterior side and back of said wearer requires each of a knee and a hip of said intended wearer to be in flexion positions.
 4. The lower-body stretching device of claim 3, wherein said posterior side and back of said wearer is limited to the group consisting of a latus region and hypochondriac region.
 5. The lower-body stretching device of claim 4, wherein said calibrated circumference is further calibrated such that said pad is positioned on an anterior side of a lower leg of said intended wearer.
 6. A method of using said lower-body stretching device of claim 5, comprising positioning said anterior side of said curvilinear pad against said anterior side of said lower leg.
 7. The method of using said lower-body stretching device of claim 6, further comprising positioning said belt around a selected area of said latus region and hypochondriac region.
 8. The method of using said lower-body stretching device of claim 7, further comprising extending said lower leg into said curvilinear pad causing stretching a muscle within a leg.
 9. The lower body stretching device of claim 2, wherein said adjustable length connector is a pulley.
 10. A lower-body stretching device, comprising: a length of line forming a closed loop held together by an adjustable length connector; an exterior side of each of a pad and a belt attached to said length of line; wherein said pad is slidably connected to said length of line.
 11. The lower-body stretching device of claim 10, wherein said belt is in a fixed position relative to said length of line.
 12. The lower-body stretching device of claim 11, wherein a fixed maximum distance between said pad and said belt is adjustable by way of passing said line through said adjustable length connector and locking said line into said adjustable length connector.
 13. The lower-body stretching device of claim 12, wherein locking comprising placing said line in said adjustable length connector such that said line is immovable through said adjustable length connector by way of extension of a leg of an intended user.
 14. The lower-body stretching device of claim 12, wherein said fixed maximum distance is set at a distance requiring flexion of a knee and hip of an intended user when said pad is placed over either a knee or lower leg, and said belt is placed around a posterior side of a torso.
 15. The lower-body stretching device of claim 12, wherein said posterior side of said torso is limited to a latus and hypochondriac region thereof.
 16. A method of using said lower-body stretching device of claim 12, comprising, in any order, placing said pad against an anterior side of said lower leg, placing said belt around said posterior side of said torso, and an intended user attempting extension of said knee against said pad.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of lying supine on said posterior side of said torso and setting said fixed maximum distance while said pad is against said lower leg and said belt is against said posterior side of said torso.
 18. The lower-body stretching device of claim 10, wherein said adjustable length connector is a pulley. 